Disparities in the outcomes of activities or achievement by race can be caused by a number of root causes. Ignoring these root causes, and focusing only on racism as the cause means we are working on things that will never solve or mitigate the problem.

Last year, the BOE sponsor of the Racial Equity Committee told us that academic outcomes, suspensions, AP participation, and other categories needed to be focused on racism in the schools. This makes sense because racism may be a cause, but it isn’t the only cause. It isn’t even in the top 3 most likely causes (poverty/economics, environmental, and behavioral are the most common). When you presuppose that racism is the primary reason (and, as was suggested, the only reason), you are accepting the premise that our society and institutions are systemically and inherently racist and stacked against students of color. And you avoid focusing on the true basis of underachievement and any chance of making progress by addressing those causes. School systems may get social credit and more funding by ostensibly fighting racism, which is only a portion of any disparities, but if true progress is to be made, we need to be honest about the causes.

The Department of Education has decided that outcomes are solely driven by civil rights violations and racism. School systems (like corporations and institutions) are following along. Read the article on the DEA’s proposals here.

Let the board know that any actions or funds directed at solving racial disparities should be focused on a full examination of the causes and not just the presumption of racism. Remember, FCPS contracted with a firm in Minneapolis to conduct a racial climate survey that isn’t interested in looking at root causes. See our February 28 article on our website for more on this.